“信者の人権を守る二世の会” Japanese 2nd Gen Advocates for Rights of Unification Church Members
Their Twitter profile reads:＼信者の人権を守る二世の会です／ 20代の家庭連合二世が集まり任意団体を立ち上げました！《報道されない家庭連合の真実》をお伝えします！#二世 #人権を守ろう #一つになろう
Google translate: We are a group of Nisei who protect the human rights of believers／ Nisei in their 20s gathered and started a voluntary group! I will tell you the unreported truth about the Family Federation
Their twitter can be found here: https://twitter.com/2ndgen_hr
They also have a website: https://www.2ndgen-rights.com/symposium/
According to their website, Second Generation in their 20s gathered and voluntarily launched Organized by the Nisei Association to Protect the Human Rights of Believers (or Members?) following Shinzo Abe’s assassination. They feel as if society sees them as victims and wants them to cut off their relationships with their first generation parents.
The first symposium will be held on Sunday, April 23rd. It will be live on YouTube tonight.
For EST, this will be Sunday, April 23, at 1AM. For PST, this will be Saturday, April 22, 10PM.
Link to Symposium: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XOwkMcnsNIw
The Unification Church, a powerful religious group commonly derided as 'The Moonies', is under investigation for its role in Japanese politics following the assassination of former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Some call it a cult, while others say the church's aim is world peace.
A religious group once called the Unification Church has revised its handbook for followers after Japan's welfare ministry pointed out that it appears to suggest the group arranges adoptions.
Around 90 percent of children with parents in religious organizations have been forced to attend religious ceremonies, while 34 percent have faced restrictions on who they can befriend or date, a survey showed.
Around 90 percent of children with parents in religious organizations have been forced to attend religious ceremonies, while 34 percent have faced restrictions on who they can befriend or date, a survey showed.
Chiki Ogiue, a commentator who heads the social research association that conducted the online survey from Sept. 9 to 19, announced the results on Nov. 1. A total of 1,158 people replied to the survey.
About 50 percent of the 1,131 people who gave valid responses said their parents were members of Buddhist groups, while about 30 percent cited Christianity and about 10 percent said their parents followed Shinto.
Around two-thirds of the respondents said they were forced to participate in religious events when they were 6 to 9 years old.
Thirty-four percent of the children said they were under pressure to donate money to religious groups, while 23 percent were mobilized for election-related rallies, the survey showed.
Some respondents said their family members spread misogynistic attitudes in their households and railed against same-sex relationships.
Others said they were restricted from participating in school events because of religious reasons.
Forty-one percent of the respondents in the survey said they have left the religious groups of their parents.
Among them, 58 percent said their family relationship has worsened, and more than 40 percent said they have had difficulties adjusting to social life.
Around 70 percent of the respondents called for the creation of a system in which children can safely leave from their parents and religious groups.
They also said the government should revoke religious corporation status of any group that creates social problems and force such organizations to dissolve.
A majority of the respondents also said they want legal restrictions on cult activities, self-support groups for people who leave religious groups, medical support for religious trauma, and enhanced educational activities.
Problems related to religious organizations have been in the spotlight since a gunman with a grudge against the Unification Church was arrested on suspicion of murdering former Prime Minister Shinzo Abe over his ties to the group.
Ogiue said the Unification Church issue has drawn attention to the problems facing children who are called “second generation” followers of religious groups.
“There are people who are disclosing their identities and speaking out,” Ogiue said.
He also said their voices represent “issues that many religious children experience and share,” and that the survey was intended to put these issues out into the open and spark debate.
Ogiue said the demands placed on the religious children and the restrictions imposed on their school choices, career options, friendships and romance show that support measures should be expanded for them.
Vocalist Young Heller also mentions the song touches on his own personal experiences of escaping the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification, whose followers are known as Moonies after the religion's founder Sun Myung Moon.
"'Nastrond' is a thrash anthem for anyone running away from a broken life," said Heller. "I escaped from my upbringing in the Moonie cult. Relearning how to live in the real world, and digging through trauma became a special kind of Hell for me. A hell I invited; one that changed me forever. 'Nastrond' is about finding your power in the flames you must face."
TOKYO -- Two women whose parents have joined the Family Federation for World Peace and Unification -- widely known as the Unification Church -- opened
Another woman in her 20s who is also a "blessed second generation" said she was shocked at Abe's assassination by the son of a Unification Church follower.
"I can totally relate to what has happened (to the suspect). I might've been Yamagami," she told the Mainichi.
She'd also gone to church every Sunday since she was young. When she was in junior high, she attended retreats to learn about Unification Church doctrine. "It was like joining a local event for kids. It was fun to join in chorus and drum performances," she recalled.
